G.O.L.D. Council

Established in 2015, the G.O.L.D. Council is a representative body of recent graduates who volunteer their time and energy to promote philanthropic support of Vanderbilt University. Members of the G.O.L.D. Council serve as the primary liaison between their graduating class and the Office of Annual Giving. By offering their financial support and encouraging their classmates to also contribute to the university, G.O.L.D. Council representatives help to foster an engaged population of recent graduates and increase young alumni giving participation.

Name: Sara Tabor SimondsPosition: G.O.L.D. Council President Degrees: BS’08 Peabody College (Major: Human & Org. Development), MAC’09 Owen Graduate School of Management (Major: Accounting)Your profession and location: National AERS Learning MDP at Deloitte in Atlanta, GeorgiaYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: My favorite VU memory is fall and football season on campus. I love when the campus comes to life at the beginning of the semester, the afternoons spent running the loop and tailgates throughout football season!

Name: Maggie Fesmire CanterPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Vice-President Degree: BA’09 College of Arts and Science (Major: Philosophy)Your profession and location: Doctoral student in clinical psychology at St. John's University in New York, New YorkYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: My favorite tradition at Vandy is going back for homecoming every year! I grew up going with my parents (both Vanderbilt alumni, BA'80 & BS'80) each fall as a kid, loved tailgating and celebrating when I was a student, and my husband (BA’08) and I love to go back whenever we can now that we have graduated. While nothing is more fun than your class's reunion years, every time I go back to Vanderbilt is a great opportunity to relive my college days, visit all my favorite spots, and cheer on the ’Dores!

Name: Kyle SouthernPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2007Degrees: BA’07 College of Arts and Science (Major: American & Southern Studies), MPP’09 Peabody College (Major: Education Policy)Your profession and location: Director of Policy and Research, Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) in Nashville, TennesseeYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: The Freedom Ride shared by students, faculty, and staff from Vanderbilt and Nashville-area HBCUs my senior year, when we learned much about the civil rights movement at historic locations from the people who made history.

Name: Perry GraggPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2008Degree: BS’08 School of Engineering (Major: Engineering Science)Your profession and location: Manager at Bain & Co in Dallas, TexasYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: One of my favorite parts of Vandy was waiting to see in the Hustler which acts would be coming for Rites of Spring and Homecoming. There was always a ton of anticipation on who would be coming and the team always surpassed expectations!

Name: Erica SantiagoPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2010Degree: BS’10 Peabody College (Major: Educational Studies)Your profession and location: Community Building Coordinator at Person Centered Care Services (PCCS) in Staten Island, New YorkYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: The thing I miss most about Vanderbilt University it the accessibility to amazing and inspiring speakers, presenters and performers. Even if I did not agree with the politics of a presenter or speaker on campus I would make sure that I got my ticket and sat as close to the front as possible because once you leave the Vandy bubble, the access to such powerful people is not the same. My junior year at Vanderbilt, Eve Ensler came to speak on her college tour and I was given the honor to introduce her before her speech. I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life. She is an inspiration to me and to meet her in the flesh was simply beyond my wildest dreams!

Name: Alexander LongstrethPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2011Degrees: BA’11 College of Arts and Science (Major: Ancient Mediterranean Studies), MED’14 Peabody College (Major: Secondary Education)Your profession and location: Senior Consultant in Atlanta, GeorgiaYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: Meeting my future wife at The Commons on the first day of classes.

Name: Lennon BrooksPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2012Degree: BA’12 College of Arts and Science (Major: English)Your profession and location: Assistant Director of Annual Giving at NC State University in Raleigh, North CarolinaYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: College Gameday on campus freshman year (2008).

Name: Caroline BerganPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2013Degree: BS’13 Peabody College (Major: Human & Org. Development)Your profession and location: Consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP's Federal Practice in Washington, D.C.Your favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: The two memories that immediately come to mind are Founders Walk during orientation and Commencement. Both were so special and memorable bookends of a formative, wonderful college experience!

Name: Zoe BlankenmeyerPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2014Degree: BA’14 College of Arts and Science (Major: Neuroscience)Your profession and location: Program Coordinator at The SoulFisher Ministries in St. Louis, MissouriYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: My freshman year I was working at Commons Dining. I was lucky enough to work alongside of the greatest people I know and after every one of our Saturday night shifts, we would walk over to the football stadium to catch the last quarter of the game.

Name: Curry ClementsPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2015Degree: BA’15 College of Arts and Science (Major: Economics)Your profession and location: Business Planning Analyst at Bonobos in New York, New YorkYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: Vanderbilt is a very special place for my family, as my mom and two of my siblings have also attended. Therefore, parent's weekend was always my favorite weekend in the fall. It was wonderful for all of my friends' families to get together and create one big Vanderbilt family.

Name: Lindsay EdwardsPosition: G.O.L.D. Council Member, Class of 2016Degree: BA’16 College of Arts and Science (Major: Economics/History)Your profession and location: Operations and Logistics Intern at Jumpstart Foundry in Nashville, TennesseeYour favorite Vanderbilt memory or tradition: Watching the Vandy Boys win the 2014 College World Series on the Vanderbilt football field.

For more information on the Vanderbilt G.O.L.D. Council, please contact Chandler MacDonald or Mallory Perdue at annualgiving@vanderbilt.edu.

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Tell us why you help Vanderbilt

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Volunteer Opportunities

The following alumni volunteer opportunities offer a variety of ways to impact Vanderbilt and the lives of current students and fellow alumni. We encourage you to explore these roles and consider which one is right for you.